Doodles: When Art and Magic Collide

The life of Doodles Lanhorn is mediocre at best. Between his unruly red hair and lanky frame, being bullied at school, and constantly being pestered by his father to go out for a sport-any sport-all he ever wants to do is lock himself away in the world of his drawings. Despite having a tight-knit group of friends, Doodles often feels alone, and his non-confrontational nature often makes it hard for him to interact at all-so, what is the point? Then everything changes on his thirteenth birthday... A book filled with gorgeous paintings, a mysterious note from a stranger, a lone bookstore, and a single paintbrush pave the way to a world where magic is commonplace, and imagination is the only limitation. A "lifelike painting" takes on a whole new meaning as Doodles explores the world of Wizartry-a proud, haphazard heritage hidden away from prying eyes. With the fate of another whole world hanging in the balance, Doodles must face his fears, challenge his faults, and discover an ability he didn't even know he had. He encounters friends and foes alike as he journeys through the secretive practice of the Wizarting world. With little guidance from his master, Doodles must pass each test and win the favor of the Gate Council in order to earn his place among this elite group. But his journey is just beginning... Join Doodles as he must discern truth from rumor, fact from myth, and good from evil in this hero's journey where a boy becomes a man. Can he uncover the plot to destroy Inner Earth? Will he be able to reverse the Eraser in time? Pick up your paintbrush and discover what lies ahead...

"By turning a paintbrush into a wand, Bernstein is encouraging children to actually create the fantasies they imagine." - Sound Magazine "His message to students was clear. Bullying is never right." - The Orange Times "Russell's giving talks at schools and his anti-bullying message is being well-received." - The Frankie Boyer Show

4.5(6680)

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Review Text

The students in my 5th grade class absolutely loved this book. I did it as a read aloud and when I was done they persuaded my principal to have the author come to our school as a guest speaker. They were thrilled to have a "celebrity" speak to them and many bought the book and had it autographed. Since they don't have google accounts to submit reviews themselves, I have included a few thoughts from several of them."I thought your book was amazing. It changed my life. It inspired me to stand up against bullies."...Johnny"In my opinion I think Doodles is a great book because it's full of surprises, teaches you about bullying, and there are a lot of twists. Go to your local book store and pick up a copy so you can go on an adventure to the inner earth with Doodles." ...Ryan" Mr. Bernstein, you have written this book well. You should be proud of yourself because it is progressing to high ratings and Doodles is starting to become a series."...Matthew"I love the story of a boy who gets picked on and thinks no good will come in his life. Then he gets the book and finds the wonderful world of wizartry. Every day when our teacher stopped reading the whole class let out a massive groan and absolutely could not wait to read again."...Cameron"I would like to say that your detail gave me a really good picture in my mind."...Nicholas"I think your book was full of surprises. I am very excited for Doodles 2 and I wish for you to make a Doodles movie!"...Aaron"The part I loved was when Russell Bernstein used imagery that was very descriptive and it painted a good picture in my mind. It is no ordinary fantasy book. When my teacher stopped reading my classmates got so upset because we wanted her to read more....Ashlee"At first I didn't think I would like this book because it was about magic, but once I started to read Doodles I loved it because it had a lot of suspense. The author wrote so well that it was hard not to like it."...Samantha"I found it enjoyable how Mr. Bernstein had a deeper meaning than just a boy in a fantasy getting to paint pictures. It is about how to deal with bullying and face your fears."...Atlanta

This is a well-written adventurous and creative book for young readers. As an elementary school teacher I will be promoting this book to my students. I know they won't be able to put it down as the sketches of Doodles come alive for them and the relationship they will form with Doodles will mirror their own struggles with their peers, growing responsibilities, and passion for bravery creates a familiar friend in the form of the written word.

I would say this 128 page, 2014 book is for about ages 8 +, but could probably be enjoyed by even 6 - 7 year olds. (I enjoyed the read myself, and am anxiously awaiting part 2.) This wonderful hard-to-put-down story is centered around a 12-year old boy "Doodles Lanhorn"--an insecure, off-to-himself young man with only a couple of friends. It seems Doodles is always being bullied and lacks the self-confidence to stand up for himself. When Uncle Roger and Aunt Martha give Doodles a very special Wizartry book for his upcoming 13th birthday, Doodle's whole world begins to transform into an unbelievable adventure, one that propells him forward into a world of magic and Wizarts (artful Wizards). Even dragons are afoot in this realm.Not only is the book about family relationships (us "old" folks know more than ya think), but it is primarily about conquoring the fears that bind you in an imaginative and heart-centered way. It also sets the story up for a part II, which I cannot wait to read. This book would make an exceptional adventure movie, especially with the Computer Graphic Imaging (CGI) that is available today. The author seeks to send a message in his book about overcoming bullying, facing your fears, and being creative and imaginative. He accomplishes his goals well. The author's background includes working with children, especially those with troubled pasts. He suggests that "creativity and perserverance, rather than strength and athleticism" can be a strong assett to accomplishing one's goals.

Bernstein has done a wonderful job infusing his imagination into words as he guides the reader through a world full of magic. Albeit lighthearted, Bernstein conveys strong moral undertones that could serve as lessons for any young reader. The adventure is off to a great start with this book and I'm looking forward to more. Recommended for any age!

This story is an excellent example of the struggles of children experiencing bullying, and offers support to empowerment through creativity and self-confidence. I definitely recommend this read for any child coming to an age of understanding and identity.

Very well written book by Mr. Bernstein. Great anti-bullying message within its pages. Would be great for school systems to add to their curriculum. i wish I'd had this book when I was growing up. Top Notch.

I purchased this book to help explain Bullying to my 5yr old and thought it was too advanced for her. but after reading a few pages and putting it down for a few days, she begin to ask me about "Doodles". She really enjoyed reading about Doodles and all of his adventures. This was a great read for children of all ages. My 15yr old also enjoyed it.